HIST339-16S1 (C) Semester One 2016

The First World War: Total War in Europe

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 22 February 2016
End Date: Sunday, 26 June 2016
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 6 March 2016
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 22 May 2016

Description

The First World War is often described as a total war. Between 1914 and 1918 over 9 million combatants were killed and European nations deliberately targeted civilians for attack. Governments gave themselves extraordinary powers over people’s lives as they tried to turn whole societies, economies and cultures to the war effort. The results of this ranged from social and political reform to revolution, genocide and the collapse of empires. Students will explore the war’s impacts on the people of Europe, investigating its origins; military, political and social developments; and the legacies of both peace diplomacy and war cultures. Focusing primarily on Britain, France and Germany, this course asks how the experience and endurance of total war affected Europe, and what this meant for the modern world.

(Image: "A wounded soldier on a stretcher", licensed under public domain)

Learning Outcomes

  • By the end of the course, you will be expected to demonstrate:
  • A detailed knowledge of the diplomatic, military, political and social history of the First World War in Europe.
  • A strong knowledge of the main historiographical debates in the field, coupled with more detailed knowledge of at least one specific debate pertaining to the First World War.
  • An ability to engage critically with these debates and to form independent views.
  • An ability to thoroughly analyse and interpret primary sources.
  • An ability to form cogent interpretations of the most important historical developments of the First World War.
  • An ability to answer broader questions about the role of the First World War in shaping European politics, society, international relations and culture in the twentieth century.

Prerequisites

30 points at 200 level HIST, or
200 level Ancient History or 200 level MAOR.

Course Coordinator

David Monger

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
First essay 20%
Second essay 20%
Seminar presentation 10%
Tutorial participation 10%
Final exam - 3 hours 40% 9.30 am 24 June 2016

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,435.00

International fee $5,825.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Humanities .

All HIST339 Occurrences

  • HIST339-16S1 (C) Semester One 2016
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